How do I prove a car accident really screwed me up when it happened two years ago? That’s what’s on my mind today. As you may know, if you’ve read anything else I’ve written, I have memory gaps sometimes. Usually, I recount these as amusing stories (like the time I locked myself out of my car and my house but everything was okay because I’d left the windows open even though it was about to rain).

For the longest time, I’d thought this might just be a quirk of my adult self that was manifesting as I reached full maturity. I’ve known people who are a bit flighty, and while I don’t think that describes me, maybe no one actually thinks they’re flighty. Maybe flighty people think they’re incredibly grounded and things just keep slipping their minds for some reason.

That’s how I approached things until I by chance read a couple articles about how car accidents can lead to memory loss issues.

Now, that got me thinking. And for once, the idea didn’t slip my mind. Were all my flighty moments just because I was flighty or because of the accident?

I didn’t really discuss the accident at the time, two years ago, with anyone. I wasn’t blogging back then, and I wasn’t very close to my family back then either. Only a few friends know how bad it was. I was in the hospital for a little while. I had to go to physical therapy after. It was ugly. But I thought when it was done it was done. Now I’m not so sure.

I want to point out here that I’m not money hungry. I don’t want to go back and sue the driver, or not so I can earn some extra cash at least. All I want is to know if I should go see a doctor and if I need treatment. If my insurance doesn’t cover the treatment, only then would I consider getting a lawyer.

Of course, I hope it’s nothing. I hope it’s just a silly flighty worry that’s crept into my flighty little head. I hope that because I’m far more worried, deep down, that my memory issues are due to brain trauma and that the brain trauma is irreversible.

That’s scary just writing it. On some level, I wish I’d just forgotten the articles I read the same way I forget my keys. Why can’t my brain malfunction to give me a little peace every now and again?

So, big announcement after writing all that. I’ve found a doctor that takes my crummy insurance, and I’m going to go see him next week to ask about all this stuff. Hopefully, he laughs me out of the office for being neurotic as well as flighty. That would be the best embarrassing moment of my life!

Over the years, we accumulate more and more items as we find ourselves moving and growing to keep up with new relationships, friendships, and jobs. We like to acquire and collect trinkets and memories, but where do we make space for these treasures? One common option is in a storage unit. However, some people are questioning whether this choice may be placing too much trust on a business. On August 21st, a fire in Long Beach caused damage to at least 100 storage units at a local storage facility, according to an article in Press Telegram. Firefighters spent hours eliminating the third alarm blaze that struck Extra Space Storage on West Wardlow Road.

This fire overtook the storage facility at night and destroyed or damaged over 100 storage units. Fire crews responded to the event shortly before midnight on Sunday. Upon arrival, the crews discovered huge flames spanning the length of the 300-foot-long building that contains units by the dozen. Approximately 75 firefighters worked together to battle the flames well into the morning. By 8 A.M., the roof had collapsed and the firefighters were trying to keep the debris from reigniting. How the blaze started and where it began is a mystery that investigators are still trying to solve. One firefighter from the scene was treated at a local hospital for an injured shoulder. Renters called and arrived at the scene in the morning to express their concern and determine whether the fire damaged their units. One such renter, Eddie Leva, said he uses his space to store his payroll records and other important documents along with some personal items. One employee from Extra Space declined to provide a statement, but mentioned that Extra Space is busy answering calls from concerned renters.

While it is impossible to predict fires, it is important to protect our property. Individuals can do so by choosing the right storage unit and a sturdy lock. Items that are valuable should be placed in the back, and most items should not be stored directly on the ground. Direct contact may create damage, as could placing flattened cardboard boxes under furniture, which may cause a larger fire. If it is possible, people using storage units should disassemble large pieces of furniture and keep items wrapped. It is important to eliminate any edible items that can cause mice and bug infestations. Flammable items should not be stored in units, especially in humid or hot climates.

Being conscious of how we store our items and what we store in our units is a positive step for storage unit renters.While we cannot anticipate mass fires, we can control the scope of their damage by filtering the content we place into our boxes. Storage units are a great option for business and personal use when you need a safe space that will protect your belongings.

After all the ups and downs in the relationship, you and your partner are finally getting married. Of course, you want the event to be as memorable as possible. The event may be all about you and your partner, but it is also a good idea to make it memorable for your guests as well. Below are some techniques you can do to make it so.

Consider a unique venue

Your venue is your first impression to your guests, and sadly, we have all seen it before – churches, gardens, beaches, and even backyards. There is nothing wrong with these venues, but choosing a unique one can make your wedding memorable for your guests.

For example, the website of the Anita Dee Yacht Charters mentions that yachts can be customized to accommodate social events like weddings. Hey, remember Jennifer’s wedding? Yes, the one in the yacht!

There are many other unique venues out there, like museums, castles, and if you are on the adventurous side, you can try caves and aquariums. Your venue can also influence your theme, which is another factor that can make your wedding memorable for guests.

Ensure everything runs smoothly

There are two kinds of memorable – the good and bad. You don’t want your wedding to be memorable because of how bad it is. So, the least you can do is to make sure that everything runs smoothly. The flow of events come into mind. There should be no awkward pauses where guests don’t know what to do.

But aside from the flow, you should also consider everything that happens in between, like the host’s capability to entertain, the food and drinks’ taste and temperature, the musicians’ ability and consistency, and the way you and your partner show appreciation to arriving guests.

Keep it short but engaging

Have you ever been to a wedding, got bored, and decided that it was too long? Probably yes, and that is the kind of memorable you don’t want. Keep your ceremonies short to maintain the interest of guests, so that means no lengthy speeches. Your guests probably know your story already anyway.

To keep interest, guests should also have first-hand participation, instead of just sitting there watching the two of you all day. You can let them give short speeches and blessings, presentations like singing and dancing, and other quirks that will suit your venue and theme.

Effects of a Criminal Charge in a Divorce Case

Spouses thinking of divorce can end their marital union either through an adversarial approach, which is open to the public or through peaceful and private means, which is also faster and much less expensive that the former.

The adversarial approach of ending a marital union is through contested divorce, also known as court-litigated divorce which, the Maynard Law Firm, PLLC, says, is the type of divorce process that may work for couples who have fundamental disagreements about the terms of their divorce.

These terms of disagreements are not based on ending a marriage per se, but on the issues that may be affected and which need to be settled, such as child custody, child support, property division, alimony, visitation rights and adoption – these are the usual issues that need to be settled in marriages that have lasted more than five years.

While fighting for one’s rights and interests, especially with regard to child custody rights, can already be challenging, the challenge becomes much harder to hurdle if the one who wishes to fight for custodianship has been charged with a crime in the past.

Having been charged with a crime, especially a drug-related crime, can make winning divorce-related issues very challenging, especially in states where fault grounds for divorce are still observed. Worse, the more recent a criminal charge is or if the act can be established to be a pattern, the more a family court judge will rule against the erring spouse.

If the charge was made many years ago and if the spouse charged of the crime has undergone a complete rehabilitation program, then the court can overrule such past wrong act and even consider it inadmissible in a divorce trial. This is based on the (family law) context that the remoteness of an act cannot be admitted as evidence against a person, more so if such act is not part of a repeated pattern, is not is likely to be repeated and has been corrected through a treatment or rehabilitation program.

As explained by the law firm Kohler Hart Powell, SC, “Facing any sort of criminal charge is a frightening and often overwhelming situation, and while the United States justice system is one of the best in the world at effectively putting criminal suspects through a fair and unbiased trial process, it is still entirely possible for an individual to be charged with a crime they did not commit or to be treated improperly through non-proportional sentences and other procedural issues. Additionally, regardless of whether a person is truly innocent or guilty, if convicted, they could face severe penalties and effects on their life and freedoms. As such, it is critical that any person facing a criminal charge build the strongest defense possible.

Everyone who has been charged with a crime has the right to defend themselves and their rights in a court of law. However, in order to do this and for a person to stand the best chance of reducing their charges or having them dismissed altogether, having the support of a criminal defense lawyer is often not only essential, but usually extremely comforting.”

Drunk driving is one of the most serious offenses that a person can commit. Getting charged with DUI can have major implications to the defendant. Aside from facing prison sentence, conviction could also lead to the suspension of their license as well as their driving privileges for a certain period of time. They may also be required to pay huge fines.

There are different types of DUI that an individual can commit. Depending on the type, the punishment may also vary. Everything will all depend on the facts and circumstances of the case. The charge will be dependent on various factors which include previous DUI convictions, level of BAC, death or injury, and property damage. Here now are the different types of DUI:

First Offense DUI

First offense DUI is a Class 1 misdemeanor that carries serious consequences. Depending on the state where the act was committed, the defendant may be subjected to a jail sentence as well as pay a certain amount as fine. It may also result to the revocation of your license or suspension of driving privileges.

2nd Offense DUI

The penalties handed down during your 1st offense will be enhanced if you commit a second offense. The charges will carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 days in prison. Your driver’s license will be suspended for 2 years. Depending on circumstances, your vehicle may even be forfeited.

3rd Offense DUI

For a third offense, the jail sentence will be increased to 120 days. Aside from that, you could end up paying heftier fines which could be up to $10,000. The revocation of your license can also increase to 6 to 10 years.

4th and Subsequent Offense DUI

Fourth time DUI offense will be elevated as a Class E felony and may subject the defendant to a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in a state prison. The courts will also revoke your license for a period of 8 years.

When facing criminal charges such as DUI, you need the help of an experienced attorney to defend you in court. Their experience can help make a difference in your case.